Dole salad products pulled from local shelves amid listeria outbreak, voluntary recall issued
Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling various bagged salad products sold under several brands in Centre County stores, according to a press release issued Saturday.
Various bagged salad items are being recalled from Giant Food Stores, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and other local grocery retailers. Items can be identified with a product code beginning with the letter “A” in the upper right-hand corner of the package, just below the best-by date.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday said 12 people in six states have been hospitalized in the outbreak since July after eating salads sold under the names Dole, Fresh Selections, Simple Truth, Marketside, The Little Salad Bar and President’s Choice.
Packaged salads produced at a Dole facility in Ohio are linked to one death in Michigan, the CDC said Friday. Dole has since stopped production in the facility, the CDC said, after learning Thursday the plant was the source of the outbreak.
Salads made at the affected plant have the letter “A” at the beginning of the manufacturing code on the package. Products with a “B” or “N” in the manufacturing code are not part of the recall, the CDC said.
Consumers can call Dole with their questions at 800-356-3111 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. The company also posted information about the recall on its website, www.dole.com.
The affected salads were being pulled from store shelves in 22 states plus three Canadian provinces.
The CDC said that the illnesses were in Michigan, New York, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Those sickened ranged in age from three to 83 years old.
Listeria primarily affects the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, pregnant women and newborn infants, the CDC said. It can cause fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms and can be fatal. It also can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor and serious illness or death in newborn babies.
Requests for comment late Saturday from media offices at Giant Food Stores and Dole were not returned.
About the recall
Did you buy a recalled product?
Follow these steps if Dole brand packaged salads produced at the Dole processing facility in Springfield, Ohio, are in your home or establishment:
▪ Throw the packaged salad away in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people and animals from eating it.
▪ Wash the refrigerator drawer and other areas where the packaged salads were stored with hot water and soap.
▪ Wash cutting boards, surfaces, and utensils used to serve or store packaged salads. If possible, use a dishwasher; otherwise, use hot water and soap, followed by sanitizing with a solution of one tablespoon chlorine bleach added to one gallon of hot water.
▪ Wash your hands with warm water and soap after cleaning up.
Did you eat a Dole brand packaged salad?
▪ If you have eaten a Dole brand packaged salad and do not have any symptoms, most experts believe that tests or treatment are not needed, even for persons at higher risk for listeriosis.
▪ People who develop symptoms of listeriosis after eating possibly contaminated products can consider seeking medical care and telling a healthcare provider about eating that product. Although people can sometimes develop listeriosis up to 2 months after eating contaminated food, symptoms usually start within several days.
This story was originally published January 23, 2016 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Dole salad products pulled from local shelves amid listeria outbreak, voluntary recall issued."